Monaco head into their Ligue 1 encounter with Lens on Wednesday night hoping to close the three-point gap between themselves and the top-four.

Lens, meanwhile, travel to the Stade Louis II having won their last two league matches on the road without conceding a goal.

Match preview

After a run of four successive league wins, Monaco have since lost their last two matches to Lille and most recently to Marseille, both away from home by a 2-1 scoreline.

Wissam Ben Yedder gave Monaco hope of securing at least a draw after converting his spot-kick 11 minutes from time but Les Olympiens defended well enough to see out a narrow victory last Saturday.

Defeat against Marseille was Monaco's fifth loss away from home this season, which has seen Nico Kovac's men drop down to sixth in Ligue 1.

Monaco do however have a much better home record, as they are unbeaten at Stade Louis II in their first seven league matches – winning five and drawing the other two.

The last time Les Monegasques faced Lens was back in the 2014-15 season when they beat them both home and away by an aggregate score of 5-0.

Monaco's next five matches are against teams below them in the table and Kovac is hoping that his side can bounce back from their two recent defeats by putting together another good run of results, starting on Wednesday night, which could move them back into top-four contention.

Despite their inconsistent form, Lens have adapted well to life back in the top-flight, having won six Ligue 1 matches so far this campaign.

The newly-promoted outfit currently sit in ninth place on 21 points from 13 matches played and are closer to the top four than the relegation zone.

Franck Haise's men have won, drawn and lost two in each of their last six matches, including a 3-2 defeat at home to Montpellier last weekend.

Lens, however, have surprised many this campaign and have thrived on their underdog status, not letting the magnitude of any big occasion affect them. The Sang et Or have already beaten both Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes so far this season and will head into Wednesday's fixture confident that they can claim all three points.

Haise's side could potentially find themselves as high as sixth with another impressive victory in Ligue 1.

Monaco Ligue 1 form: WWWWLL

Lens Ligue 1 form: DWDLWL

Team News

Monaco's Aleksandr Golovin (hamstring) and Djibril Sidibe (calf) are nearing a return to action, but neither are likely to feature on Wednesday.

Despite narrow losses to Lille and Marseille, Niko Kovac is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his starting XI.

Kovac will be hoping that key frontman Wissam Ben Yedder is fit enough to last 90 minutes as the striker has only recently returned having had coronavirus.

Lens duo Jonathan Gradit and Cheick Doucoure are back from suspension and are likely to start for the visitors.

Forward Ignatius Ganago, who has begun the last three matches on the bench, could be given a start ahead of Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Aguilar, Disasi, Badiashile, Henrique; Martins, Fofana, Tchouameni, Diop; Ben Yedder, Volland

Lens possible starting lineup:
Leca; Gradit, Bade, Medina; Clauss, Cahuzac, Doucoure, Sylla; Kakuta; Sotoca, Ganago

We say: Monaco 2-1 Lens

Lens have proved throughout this season that they are capable of competing at this level. However, the Sang et Or face a Monaco side undefeated at home and who will be keen to ensure that they do not lose three matches on the bounce. We expect the home side to secure a narrow victory on Wednesday night.

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